Breast surgery and reconstruction

Question 1

Principles of surgical oncology

Answer 1

remove tumour with clear margin 
surgical feasibility 
patient suitability for surgery 
quality of life 
preservation of function

Question 2

what are the types of breast surgery

Answer 2

breast conservation therapy + radiotherapy
mastectomy
oncoplastic surgery - breast reconstruction after tumour removal

Question 3

what must always be given alongside breast conservation therapy

Answer 3

radiotherapy

Question 4

what is a mastectomy

Answer 4

removal of whole breast tissue

Question 5

which is better, BCT or mastectomy

Answer 5

BCT plus radiotherapy is just as safe if not better than mastectomy

Question 6

what is oncoplastic surgery

Answer 6

safe cancer surgery with good cosmetic outcome afterwards

Question 7

list reconstruction options in breast conservation therapy and their indications

Answer 7

therapeutic mamopexty
therapeutic reduction mammoplasty - large breasts
volume replacement - small breasts

Question 8

options for reconstruction in mastectomy

Answer 8

external prosthesis
implant
autologous tissue

Question 9

examples of autologous reconstruction

Answer 9

latissimus dorsi LD
deep inferior epigastric perforator DIEP
inferior gluteal artery perforator IGAP
superior gluteal artery perforator SGAP
transverse upper gracilis TUG
profunda artery perforator PAP

Question 10

what is involved in a sentinel node biopsy

Answer 10

injecting blue and radioiodine dye to identify and remove the sentinel nodes

Question 11

what complication can arise from a level 3 axillary clearance

Answer 11

lymphoedema in the arm